“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”
Acts 19:13–16 (NIV)

From the passage above, it is clear that the demons recognised that these seven sons of Sceva carried no spiritual authority of their own.

Note: Being the son or daughter of a praying man—a man who carries power and authority in the spiritual realm—does not automatically mean you carry the same power and authority.

The evil spirit said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” This was because they attempted to use the name of Jesus without a genuine relationship with Him or the spiritual authority required for the task.

Dear believers, know God for yourselves. Don’t be like the sons of Sceva, who called on the name of Jesus whom Paul preached rather than acting from a personal relationship with the God they claimed to represent.

As Pastor Akin will always say, don’t let the name of Jesus become an exclamation in your mouth. Know Him, and know peace.

May the Lord bless His Word in your heart as you go out today.

PRAYER:
My Father and my God, help me to encounter You for myself, in Jesus’ name. Amen.